Reunited, and it feels so good

My high school graduating class totaled 200 students, give or take. Of the 200, three of us had Type 1 diabetes. I had it the longest, since first grade, and the other two got it sometime around sixth. It wasn’t something we talked about much – we all were in different social circles, and in those years (teenage years, late 80s/early 90s), diabetes wasn’t something that you wore on your sleeve – literally or figuratively.

I had gone away to a diabetes summer-camp in 1981, right after I was diagnosed, and honestly didn’t care much for it. But in 1987, Ron and Tony (not their real names) convinced me to give it another try, so I did. Some bonds were formed and memories were made that summer, but by the time the next school year rolled around, we all went our separate ways again. I never really knew Ron well – he was from the other side of town and had gone to a different elementary school. In the combined Junior High, kids will be kids, and you didn’t dare cross that arbitrary line and talk to people from “the other side of town”. But I had known Tony since kindergarten, and although we were never best buds, we were always friendly.

This past Friday was our 20th High School Reunion, and this time Tony and I were like best buds. He’d been through some rough times, and after Ron passed away, he was really feeling a bit alone. Shortly after the news about Ron had spread, word had spread that I had died also. Obviously that one was false, and I had to break my vow of never joining Facebook to prove it to my classmates. But Tony wasn’t on Facebook, and he really didn’t know for sure how I was doing, or if I was even around at all.

Previously, I had heard that Ron passed away due to “complications from diabetes” but nothing further. But I learned that he turned to drugs to help cope with the day-to-day life with D, and when one masked the symptoms of the other, well, I really don’t need to go on. Still, this is a chilling reminder that the emotional side of diabetes can be very real and very powerful.

But anyway, I had seen Tony’s name-tag sitting on the table outside the ballroom at the reunion and knew he’d be there. When he saw me and pulled me aside, conversation started with “so, how are you feeling?” and recollections of that summer twenty-five years ago at camp, but quickly shifted to talk about how Lantus was a Godsend for him, stories of highs and lows (mostly lows), blood sugar tests, us taking care of our kids … and vice-versa, and how we pay for all of this.

Actually getting into the details of things was a bit awkward for me. I walk in there with all of my robot parts (which I feel privileged to have, by the way), and he tests his blood sugar twice a day because it’s all he can afford, going by how he feels at all other times. I wanted to show him my CGM with the downward-pointing arrow, I wanted to tell him about temporary basals (his job is physically demanding, and he’s suffered some serious lows while working. it would really help.). But I didn’t want to lecture, and I didn’t want to flaunt. No one likes being on the receiving end of that. He still struggles, but he does the best he can with what he’s got.

Still, he’s got a pretty good handle on his diabetes – finally – and that made me feel really good. And for him to see how I was doing, well, I’ve got a pretty good feeling that he shed some tears later on behind closed doors. From what he, and separately his wife, told me, he left the reunion somewhat inspired, believing that you can live a healthy and happy life with diabetes and that Ron’s way isn’t the only way.

Tony’s wife said he talks about me often, and to actually see me at the reunion, in good health and in good spirits, meant the world to him. I guess I was kind of like an in-person “You Can Do This” — not by trying, but just by being there and sharing my story.

(I briefly tried bringing up the whole “bunch of people on the Internet” thing with plans to segue into the blogs, Twitters, videos, and so on, but he would have none of that. Computers intimidate him). But it was getting late, I was getting a little tired, and he was getting a little drunk, so it wasn’t exactly the right time. However, we’d now had each other’s phone numbers, and hopefully this time we’d meet again before the 30th reunion.

But before I left, he gave me a wet, sloppy kiss on the cheek. Which was really awkward for me, but in a way was really satisfying. It had meaning.

Great post, Scott. I graduated with 750+ students … and i was dx my senior year. I honestly can not tell you one other person in my class (or school for that matter) that was diabetic. Sad, huh? I’m sure with that many students that there were some .. but I have no idea who. The only other diabetic I knew around the time of my dx was the guy that cut my hair .. who became a very dear friend, until he passed away a few years ago from “complications”.

Interesting post. I too graduated in a class of about 200 students, although I was the only one with T1DM (there were a few others growing up, but they ended up going to different high schools, hence I was the only one left in my graduating class). I happened to have a 25 year reunion this year (we never had a 20 year) and this one was organized exclusively on Facebook, hence I think we were one of the first to go that route, but it was really the only place everyone could be located. Only about 20 of us went to the event, but it did make me think about “whatever happened to [insert name here]”. After 25 years, the clique thing really seemed to disappear, because no one really cares that many years after. Still, there were a few who have died, one from suicide, and the other two for various reasons (auto accident and rare form of metastic cancer). Still, these numbers are bound to increase as time moves on. I’m glad to be among those who are doing very well, but I also realize I am very fortunate to have healthcare insurance and a pretty good career, and not everyone is as fortunate. But the notion of one path to well-being is flawed when we don’t all have access to the same things; doing well with what we have access to seems to be the name-of-the-game in the U.S., it’s good that your campmate is able to do well with less.

RITD by Email/Facebook/RSS

Rolling in the Tweets

DISCLAIMER

Nothing written on this blog (or anywhere on the Internet for that matter) should be considered medical advice. Use your own discretion and seek professional guidance where necessary for any changes to your self-treatment.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2016 Rolling In The D
All material (images and text) on this blog is property of the author and may not be reproduced, with or without attribution, without the express written consent of the blog's owner. Excerpts of a reasonable length may be used to describe content when accompanied by a link to the respective URL.

Images used on RITD that have been obtained from other sources are subject to their respective licensing conditions. Click the image for additional information.

Content that was redistributed prior to January 1, 2015, when this blog operated under a limited Creative Commons License, is permitted to remain under the terms in effect at that time.